According to many witnesses, Saipov shouted “Allahu Akbar” upon exiting a Home Depot rental truck after intentionally driving the wrong way on a busy bike lane near the World Trade Center — the site of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. After striking several people, witnesses say he “crashed deliberately into a school bus carrying at least three children,” CNBC reports. Leaving his vehicle with two imitation guns, he was shot in the abdomen by police, according to NYPD.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Latest on a vehicle driving onto a bike path near the World Trade Center site and memorial (all times local):

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH’-moh) has increased security at airports, bridges, tunnels and mass transit systems around the state following a vehicle attack on a bike path near the World Trade Center.

The Democratic governor has directed the lights on the spire of 1 World Trade Center be lit in red, white and blue in honor of freedom and democracy. He says additional security personnel are being deployed to high-density areas and large public gatherings.

Update 9:06 pm:

Reaching a new low, the alleged suspect chased toward children after crashing his truck into the school bus.

In April, an Uzbek national was behind the Stockholm terror attack. Rakhmat Akilov, a 39-year-old with ties to the Islamic State, drove a hijacked truck into a crowd of people, killing four people and wounding 15, in an eerily similar terror plot.

“The President has been briefed on the incident in NYC by CoS Kelly and will be continually updated as more details are known. Our Thoughts and prayers are with all those affected.”

Update 5:47 pm:

Despite officials calling the event an act of terror, Facebook is just labeling it “The Violent Incident” in its Safety Check feature.

Update 5:40 pm:

Islamic State supporters are celebrating the Manhattan terror attack, stating “You killed men and widowed women and orphaned children…what do you expect!” reports Rita Katz, Director of SITE Intelligence Group.

“This was an act of terror, and a particularly cowardly act of terror aimed and innocent civilians, aimed at people going about their lives who had no idea what was about to hit them,” said De Blasio. “We, at this moment … know of 8 innocent people who have lost their lives and over a dozen more injured. We know that this action was intended to break our spirit, but we also know New Yorkers are strong, New Yorkers are resilient, and will not be moved by an act of violence.”

“I want to ask all New Yorkers to be vigilant. We know its Halloween night and in the days ahead people will be uneasy,” he continued.

After De Blasio spoke, Governor Cuomo spoke, reiterating there is no ongoing threat:

“It reminds us how precious life is… that shock and that pain is going to be very real… our first responders did an extraordinary job… the new terrorist tactic which they called for publically are these lone wolves who commit an act of terror. This is very preliminary … but at this moment there is no evidence to suggest a wider plot or wider scheme… the actions of one individual who meant to cause pain and harm and probably death, and the resulting terror, and that was the purpose. We will be vigilant, more police everywhere, you’ll see them in the airports, you’ll see them in the tunnels, it’s not because there is any evidence of any threat.”

Update 5:20pm:

Rita Katz, Director of SITE Intelligence Group, notes Islamic State magazine Rumiyah has encouraged its followers to execute similar attacks, specifically highlighting the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York as a soft target.

The suspect was shot twice by law enforcement after he was stopped on a bike path by a school bus that got in the way, according to Fox News.

Update 4:15 pm:

From the Associated Press: “Police and witnesses say a motorist drove onto a busy bicycle path near the World Trade Center memorial and struck several people, then emerged from the vehicle screaming and firing something that appeared to be a gun.”

An Associated Press photographer on the scene Tuesday witnessed at least two bodies lying motionless on the path beneath tarps.

The New York Police Department posted on its Twitter feed that one person was in custody. The department says it’s unclear whether anyone was shot.

A man who was riding in an Uber along the West Side Highway near Chambers street says he saw several bleeding people on the ground after a truck struck several people.

A witness said the truck had also collided with a small bus and one other vehicle.

Update 4:09 pm:

According to Fox News, the FBI is responding to the scene.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio are both en route as well:

I have been briefed with preliminary information on the situation in Lower Manhattan and am heading to the scene.